X-ray photographing apparatus

ABSTRACT

An X-ray photographing apparatus capable of adjustably moving or rotating separately or in combination the following three means: means for rotating a bed board about a shaft fitted thereto; means for rotating the bed board in a vertical plane so as to displace an examinee lying on the bed board from a horizontal to an upright position or vice versa; and means for jointly shifting in the lengthwise direction of the examinee an X-ray tube and Xray image detecting and photographing device which are so disposed as to have the examinee therebetween.

United States Patent H 1 Kurokawa et al. [4 1 Jan. 2, 1973 S4] X-RAYPHOTOGRAPHING [56] References Cited APPARATUS UNITED STATES PATENTS [75]Inventors: Toshro Kurokawa, Mmato-ku,

Tokyo; Nishiyama Hachin. 1,573,571 2/1926 POhl .L ..250/57 ohe-shiAomori-ken; Toshio okubo 3,500,045 3/l970 Rossi ..250/57 Atsugi-shi,Kanagawa-ken; Katsumi Nagai, Suginarni-ku, Tokyo, all of JapanAssignees: Toshio Kurokawa, Tokyo; Shoji Nishiyama, Hachinohe-shi,Aomoriken; Tokyo Shlbaura Electric Co., Ltd., Kawasaki-shi, Japan Filed:Sept. 10, 1970 Appl. No.: 71,194

Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 11, 1969 Japan ..45/71627 Sept.29, 1969 Japan ..45/77080 1 US. Cl ..250/55, 250/57 Int. Cl. ..G03b41/16 Field of Search ..250/57, 56, 55

Primary Examiner-Archie R. Borchelt Assistant Examiner-C. E. ChurchAttorney-Flynn and Frishauf [5 7 ABSTRACT An X-ray photographingapparatus capable of adjustably moving or rotating separately or incombination the following three means: means for rotating a bed boardabout a shaft fitted thereto; means for rotating the bed board in avertical plane so as to displace an examinee lying on the bed board froma horizontal to an upright position or vice versa; and means for jointlyshifting in the lengthwise direction of the examinee an X-ray tube andX-ray image detecting and photographing device which are so disposed asto have the examinee therebetween.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures X-RAY PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS The presentinvention relates to an X-ray photographing apparatus involving meansfor moving or rotating a bed board, X-ray tube, and X-ray imagedetecting and photographing device.

Where X-ray photographic examination is made to detect a site ofdiseases such as cancer or an ulcer in the stomach, there is introducedinto an examinees stomach an image forming agent such as a solution ofbarium and air or a foaming agent. The barium solution is deposited onthe creased inner walls of the stomach and the peripheral edge thereof,distinctly presenting the condition of the disease site on an X-rayphotographic film. Air or a foaming agent is taken in to allow theinterior of the stomach to be photographed in an expanded state. TheX-ray tube and X-ray image detecting and photographing device sopositioned as to have an examinee therebetween are energized to projectthe condition of the disease site on the film of the X-ray imagedetecting and photographing device. However, if, in case suchphotographing is made of the stomach only in one direction, the examineedoes not take a proper position or the photographing device does notdefine a suitable angle with respect to him, there are occasions wherepart of the disease site is hidden from the photographing device,failing to be presented on the film. In such case, it is necessary towave the X-ray tube and X-ray photographing device for adjustment withrespect to the examinees position or conversely to change his position,particularly his lying position with respect to the X-ray tube and X-rayphotographing device. Displacement of the position of the examinees bodyresults from the necessity of projecting the hidden portion of a diseasesite and causing the image forming barium solution taken into thestomach to be removed from the place where it is initially settled so asto set the inner walls of the stomach on which there is deposited thebarium solution substantially perpendicular to the direction inwhichthere is irradiated an X-ray flux from an X-ray tube, thereby tofacilitate such photographing.

At this point, consideration should be given to the optimum condition inwhich the barium solution is deposited on the creased inner walls of thestomach. By the optimum condition of said deposition is meant thecondition in which the barium solution only settles on the recesses ofthe creased stomach walls and not on the projecting parts thereof. Torealize such a condition, it is required that amounts of the bariumsolution used be controlled and its viscosity be properly chosen. Thereason is that if there are attached large amounts of the solution tothe stomach walls due to excess application, the creased portions of thewalls fail to be distinctly observed and if the solution is too viscous,it will also unfavorably settle on the projecting parts. If the,solution is too much diluted, it will upon displacement of the examineesposition flow out of the recesses of the creases into the particularsection ofthe stomach which will serve as a sort of receptacle tocollect such solution.

Selection of not only the amounts and viscosity of a barium solutionused, but also, the displacement of the position of an examinees bodyand the timing of photographing constituteimportant factors in carryingout accurate X-ray photographing. Accordingly, it has been greatlydemanded to develop such type of X-ray photographing apparatus as willpermit the shifting of an X-ray tube and X-ray image detecting andphotographing device for adjustment with respect to the position of anexaminees body and also the quick displacement of the position of saidbody itself, particularly his lying position. However, the conventionalX-ray photographing apparatus of the aforementioned type has thedrawbacks that the relative peripheral shifting of the X- ray tube andX-ray image detecting and photographing device to effect the properprojection of an X-ray flux on the latter is limited to a certain rangeof peripheral angles, preventing every nook and corner of the creasedinner walls of the stomach assuming a complicated three-dimensional formfrom being distinctly observed and also the position of an examineesbody from being quickly altered to obtain an optimumdeposition of abarium solution. Such a prior apparatus as a whole is mechanicallyrestricted in operation.

It is accordingly the object of the present invention to provide an Xrayphotographing apparatus which is capable of minutely adjusting thefollowing three means involved: means for altering the direction inwhich there is projected an X-ray flux; means for rotating a bed boardabout a shaft fitted thereto; and means for rotating in a vertical planeso as to displace the position of an examinees body from a horizontal toan upright position or vice versa.

The present invention can be more fully understood from the followingdetailed description when taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic pictorial view of an X-ray photographing apparatusconcretely illustrating the principle on which the present invention isbased;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration, partly in section, of an X-rayphotographing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a diagram comparingthe manner in which there is conductedX-ray photographing by the device of the invention with that by theconventional device.

As shown in FIG. 1, a bed board 1 has a shaft 2 fitted thereto in amanner to extend in its longitudinal direction. The shaft 2 is supportedat both ends by bearings 3a and 3b respectively. Below the bed board 1,there are fixed both ends of an arched'rack 4 to the bearings 30 and 3bwith the curvature turned downward. To one lateral side of the bedboard'l is fitted a support arm 5 in a manner to slide lengthwise of thebed board 1 in the direction of the indicated arrows. To both ends ofthe support arm 5 are fitted an X- ray tube 6 and X-ray image detectingand photographing device 7 ina manner to face the opposite sides of thebed board 1.

The first control means involved in the X-ray photographing apparatus ofthe present invention permits the adjustable sliding of the X-ray tubeand X-ray image detecting and photographing device in the longitudinaldirection of the bed board 1 with an examinee (not shown) lying thereondisposed between these two members 6 and'7.

The shaft 2 is fitted near one end with a worm wheel 8, which isconnected to a first motor 10 through a worm screw 9 meshing with thefirst mentioned worm wheel 8. The drive of the motor 10 rotates the wormwheel 8 and in consequence the shaft 2 engaged therewith in either ofthe directions indicated by the arrows b of FIG. 1, thereby adjustingthe rotation of the bed board through 360 max. This operation isundertaken by the second control means of the invention. According tothe third control means of the invention, there is meshed a pinion 11with the outer periphery of the arched rack 4. The pinion 11 isconnected to a worm wheel 13 through a shaft 12. The worm wheel 13meshes with a worm screw 14 and is connected to a motor 16 through ashaft 15. The drive of the motor 16 transmits a rotating moment to thepinion 11 through the worm screw 14, worm wheel 13 and shaft 12. Therotatable engagement of the pinion 11 with the rack 4 permits the latterto rotate in the direction of the indicated arrows c. Said rotationenables the examinee on the bed board 1 to be displaced from ahorizontal to an upright position or vice versa.

There will now be described the movement and rotation of the X-ray tube,X-ray image detecting and photographing apparatus and bed board in.three directions indicated by the arrows of a, b and c by reference toan embodiment of the present invention concretely illustrated in FIG. 2.According to FIG. 2, a support arm 20 for supporting a photographingdevice is rotatably supported on a support stand 22 by means of asupport shaft 21. The ends of the support arm 20 are connected throughbearings 23 and 24 and through shafts 25 and 26 to the correspondingends of a bed board 27 and a support frame 28 respectively. To both endsof the bed board 27 are fitted support members 29 and 30 at right anglesto the horizontal plane of the bed board 27. The aforesaid shafts 25 and26 are fixed to the support members 29 and 30. The bed board 27 isprovided at one end with a footstool on which an examinee steps when heis brought to an upright position. Both ends of the support frame 28 arebent perpendicular to the horizontal plane of the frame 28 to constitutebent sections 31 and 32. These bent sections 31 and 32 are rotatablyconnected to the shafts 25 and 26 by bearings 33 and 34. An X-ray tube36 received in a frame 37 and X-ray image detecting and photographingdevice 38 are connected by support rods 39 at such positions as to havethe bed board 27 and support frame 28 disposed therebetween. These X-raytube 36 and X-ray' photographing device 38 are fitted to the supportframe 28 by a known slide mechanism (not shown) so as adjustably toslide lengthwise of the bed board 27. Outside of the support frame 28 isprovided a drive mechanism 40 for the support frame 28 and bed board 27.To the outside of the support frame 28 is fixed one end of anothersubstantially L-shaped frame 41. To the inside of the lateral side ofsaid L-shaped frame 41 is fitted a first motor 42, which is operatedwhen it is desired to rotate the bed board 27 and support frame 28 atthe same time. The rotary shaft 43 of the first motor 42 engages a gear44, which in turn engages another gear 46 through a pinion 45. Thelatter gear 46 is fixed to the support arm 20 by screws 47 in a mannerto rotate jointly with the support arm 20 about the shaft 26 by means ofthe bearing 24. To the outside of the support frame 28 is fixed anothermotor 48, which is only intended to rotate the bed board 27. The rotaryshaft of the motor 48 meshes with a gear 50, which in turn meshes withanother gear 52 through a pinion 51. The latter gear 52 meshes with theshaft 26 to rotate therewith.

There will now be described the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 2arranged as described above which corresponds to the movement orrotation in the three directions indicated by the arrows a, b and c ofFIG. 1. Operation in the direction of the arrows a is effected by aslide mechanism (not shown) as previously described, namely, by causingthe X-ray tube 36 received in the frame 37 to slide along the supportframe 28 and also the X-ray image detecting and photographing device 38to slide lengthwise of the bed board 27, together with the X-ray tube36.

Operation in the direction of the arrows b is conducted in the followingmanner. In this case, the bed board 27 alone is rotated, with thesupport frame kept immovable, namely, the X-ray tube 36 and X-ray imagedetecting and photographing device kept stationary. The second motor 48is driven to rotate the gear 50, for example, clockwise through theshaft 49. The pinion 51 meshed with the gear 50 rotatescounterclockwise, causing the gear 52 meshed with the pinion 51 torotate clockwise. The gear 52 is fixed to the shaft 26, the end of whichis fitted to the support member 30 of the bed board 27. The shaft 25fixed to the other support member 29 of the bed board 27 is rotatablyconnected through the bearings 33 and 23 to the bent section 31 of thesupport frame 28 and the end of the support arm 20 respectively. Theclockwise rotation of the gear 52 causes the bed board 27 to rotatesimilarly clockwise. When the second motor 48 is rotated in the oppositedirection to the preceding case, the bed board 27 will naturally rotatecounterclockwise.

The rotation of the bed board 27 alone is performed when it is desiredto alter the examinees lying position with the direction in which toproject the X-rays unchanged. In this case, the bed board 27 and supportframe 28 are rotated at the same time. This operation is conducted asfollows. The first motor 42 is driven, for example, counterclockwise,causing the pinion 45 to rotate clockwise. The gear 46 is fixed to theend of the support arm 20 by screws 47, and both ends of the supportframe 28 supporting the frame 41 are carried on the bearings 33 and 34.Accordingly, the pinion 45 rotates clockwise about the gear 46 with thesupport arm 20 kept immovable, so that the support frame 28, togetherwith the first motor 42 and its support frame 41, rotates clockwise. Asthe result of the rotation of the support frame 28, the second motor 48fixed thereto though not electrically energized, changes its position.Said displacement is transmitted through the pinion 51 to the gear 52 tocause it to rotate clockwise.

Since the shaft 26 meshed with the gear 52 is fixed to the supportmember 30 of the bed board 27, the clockwise rotation of the gear 52causes the bed board 27 to rotate similarly clockwise together with thesupport frame 28.

Operation in the direction of the arrows c of FIG. 1 is carried out asfollows. Manual or electrical rotation of the shaft 21 causes thesupport arm to be inclined to any desired point so as to match thedisplacement of the bed board 27 from a horizontal to an uprightposition or vice versa.

A suitable combination of means capable of movement or rotation in theaforementioned three directions, coupled with proper adjustment, permitsthe X-ray applied part of an examinees body to be accurately anddistinctly projected on a film.

As apparent from FIG. 3, with the conventional X- ray photographingapparatus (indicated by FIGS. 3- 1(a), 3-2(a), 3-8(a), the distancebetween the X- ray photographing device 5 and examinees body A and theeffective photographing area of the examined part vary with the positionof his body. In contrast, with the X-ray photographing apparatus of thepresent invention (indicated by FIGS. 3-l(b), 3-2(b), 3-8(b)), thedistance between the X-ray photographing device 5 and examinees body Acan be substantially fixed, no matter how the position of his body isaltered. Moreover, the X-ray photographing device can be brought veryclose to the examinees body A and the X- ray applied part of said bodyalways has a maximum effective photographing area as viewed from anX-ray source 4, so that there is obtained a far more distinct photographthan has been possible with the prior apparatus.

In a practical photographing operation, there is introduced into thestomach of the examinee A a solution B of barium indicated by thehatching of the FIG. 3-1 which is used as an image forming agent. Afterdeposition of the barium solution B on those parts of the inner walls ofthe examinees stomach which are to be photographed, his body isdisplaced to alter the site of the barium solution B in such a manner asto cause the stomach walls to which there is attached the bariumsolution B exactly to face the direction in which there is projected anX-ray flux.

FIGS. 3-1(a) and 3-l(b) show an examinees body lying on the back, FIGS.3-2(a) and 3-2(b) his body disposed slantwise, FIGS. 3-3(a) and 3-3(b)his body vertically set on one side and FIGS. 3-4(a) and 3-4(b) his bodyslantwise lying on the face. FIGS. 3-5 to 3-8 represent the examineesbody A lying on the face with respect to the bed board 1. The lattergroup of pictures may be explained in the same way as the former group.

As apparent from comparison of the photographing conditions between theconventional and present apparatus, the conventional apparatus onlychanges the position of an examinees body A with respect to thedirection in which there is irradiated an X-ray flux from an X-ray tube4, with a bed board 1 and X-ray image detecting and photographing device5 kept unchanged in position. Accordingly, of the inner walls of theexaminees stomach on which there is deposited a solution of barium B,that part which acts as a sort of receptacle to collect the portions ofsaid solution B flowing out from the place where it initially settles isbrought into the way along which there is projected an X-ray flux toobstruct its irradiation, with the resultant failure to produce adistinct photograph. In contradistinction to this, the X-rayphotographing apparatus of the present invention enables, as describedabove, an X-ray tube, X-ray image detecting and photographing device andbed board involved to be moved or rotated separately or in combinationin the directions indicated by the arrows a, b and 0, thereby permittingan X-ray flux to be introduced into the stomach by bypassing theaforesaid receptacle of the barium solution B and in consequenceenabling the broader inner wall surface C of the stomach in which thereare deposited proper amounts of the solution to be photographedaccurately. This favorable effect of the present invention will becomeprominent by comparison of the present and prior art X-ray photographingapparatus illustrated particularly in FIGS. 3-3, 3-4, 3-7 and 3-8. Inaddition to the improved photographing effect resulting from theaforesaid enlarged effective photographing area, the present inventionfurther offers an advantageous arrangement whereby the displacement ofan examinees body and the setting of photographing time can be quicklycarried out, and the X-ray applied part of the examinees stomach can bephotographed in an optimum condition by causing a solution of barium tobe deposited on the inner walls of the stomach in such a manner as bestmeets the amount and viscosity of said solution.

A further advantage of the present invention is that since the X-raytubeand X-ray image detecting and photographing device or bed board aremoved or rotated with an examinees body lying on the bed board keptunchanged in position, photographing can be effected without physicallyupsetting the examinee as has been the case with the conventionalapparatus which requires the examinees body to be forcibly displacedeach time photographing is conducted.

What we claim is:

1. An X-ray photographingapparatus comprising:

a bed board (27);

a support arm member (20) for rotatably supporting the bed board (27) bycausing each end thereof to be meshed with a bearing mechanism (23,24)through at least two shafts (25,26) extending lengthwise of the bedboard, each end of said support arm member being rotatably coupled torespective shafts, said support arm (20) further adjustably rotatingsaid bed board (27) in a vertical plane from a horizontal to an uprightposition or vice versa;

a first support frame (28), each end of which is rotatably supported ona respective one of said at least two shafts by means of respectivebearing mechanisms;

an X-ray tube (36) and X-ray image detecting and photographing device(38) slideably mounted on said first support frame (28) with the bedboard (27) therebetween, said X-ray tube and X-ray image detecting andphotographing device being slideable inthe longitudinal direction of thebed board;

a first motor (48) fixed to the first support frame (28) and whoserotation is transmitted through a first gear mechanism (50,51,52) to thebed board (27) to rotate said bed board (27) independently of said firstframe (28), said first gear mechanism comprising a plurality of gears inmesh with each other, one outermost gear of which is fixed to the shaftof said first motor and another outermost gear opposite to said oneoutermost gear being fixed to one of said bed board shafts to rotatesaid bed board;

a second frame (41) coupled to and supported by said first support frame28);

a second motor (42) fixed to said second frame (41 a second gearmechanism (44, 45, 46) coupling said second motor (42) to said supportarm member (20) and comprising a plurality of gears in mesh with eachother, one outermost gear of which is fixed to the shaft of said secondmotor and another outermost gear opposite to said one outermost boardand said first frame (28) to simultaneously gear being fixed to the endof said support arm and synchronously rotate; and member, the rotationof Said Second motor a pedestal (2 2) for rotatably supporting saidsupport being transmitted to said second gear mechanism arm member (20)through a further Shaft (21) (44,45,46) to cause said second frame (41)to 2. A X- h t h t d t rotate relative to said support arm member (20),n my p o ograp mg appara us accor mg 0 thereby rotating Said firstSupport frame (28) claim 1 wherein said at least two shafts are fixedlycouthrough said second frame (41) about the end of pled to Said bedboard said support arm member (20) to cause said bed i UNETED STATESPATENT OFFICE CETIFlCATE 0F CORRECTION Patent N0. 3 ,708 ,662 DatedJanuary 2 1973 lnventor(s) TOSHIO KUROKAWA, ET.AL.

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent andthat said Letters Patent are hereby c'-.'rected as shown below:

IN THE DRAWINGS:

(1) Correct sheet 3 to properly designate Fig. 3-3b and Fig. 3-41);

2 Add sheet 4 (Figs. 3-5 through- Figs 3-8) of the drawings to theissued Letters Patent; and

(3) Re-number the sheets of drawings "1 of 4", "2 of 4" "3 of 4" am" "4of 4", respectively.

This cer't ifica'te supersedes Certificate of Correction issued August14, 1973;

Signed and sealed this :7th day? of January 1975.

(SEAL) Attest:

MCCOY M. GIBSON JR; c. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents FORM PC4050 I uscoMM-oc 6O376-P69 U.S GOVERNMENT HUNTING OFFICE:"l9 0-36Q-394,

Page 2 Patent No, 3,708,662

TMQF Page 3 Patent N UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OFCORRECTION Patent No. 3, 62 ated January 2 1973 Inventor(s) TOSHIOKUROKAWA, ET.AL.

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent andthat said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

IN THE DRAWINGS:

(1) Corrects'heet 3 to properly designate Fig. 3-3b and Fig. 3-4 15;-

(2) Add sheet 4' (Figs. 3-5 through Figs, 3-8) be the drawings to theissuedLetters Patent; and

(3) Re-number the sheets of drawings "1 of 4", "2 of 4" "3 of 4"fand "4of'4", respectively.

This certificate supersedes Certificate of Correction issued August 1141973.

Signed and sealed this 6th day of August 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

MCCOY M. GIBSON;v R; c. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents USCOMM-DC 603764 69 w u.s. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE mos0-366-334,

FOVRM Po-wso (10459) PAGE 31 mm F mi mw ww WWW SHEET 7 4 of 4

1. An X-ray photographing apparatus comprising: a bed board (27); asupport arm member (20) for rotatably suppoRting the bed board (27) bycausing each end thereof to be meshed with a bearing mechanism (23,24)through at least two shafts (25,26) extending lengthwise of the bedboard, each end of said support arm member being rotatably coupled torespective shafts, said support arm (20) further adjustably rotatingsaid bed board (27) in a vertical plane from a horizontal to an uprightposition or vice versa; a first support frame (28), each end of which isrotatably supported on a respective one of said at least two shafts bymeans of respective bearing mechanisms; an X-ray tube (36) and X-rayimage detecting and photographing device (38) slideably mounted on saidfirst support frame (28) with the bed board (27) therebetween, saidX-ray tube and X-ray image detecting and photographing device beingslideable in the longitudinal direction of the bed board; a first motor(48) fixed to the first support frame (28) and whose rotation istransmitted through a first gear mechanism (50,51,52) to the bed board(27) to rotate said bed board (27) independently of said first frame(28), said first gear mechanism comprising a plurality of gears in meshwith each other, one outermost gear of which is fixed to the shaft ofsaid first motor and another outermost gear opposite to said oneoutermost gear being fixed to one of said bed board shafts to rotatesaid bed board; a second frame (41) coupled to and supported by saidfirst support frame (28); a second motor (42) fixed to said second frame(41); a second gear mechanism (44, 45, 46) coupling said second motor(42) to said support arm member (20) and comprising a plurality of gearsin mesh with each other, one outermost gear of which is fixed to theshaft of said second motor and another outermost gear opposite to saidone outermost gear being fixed to the end of said support arm member,the rotation of said second motor (42) being transmitted to said secondgear mechanism (44,45,46) to cause said second frame (41) to rotaterelative to said support arm member (20), thereby rotating said firstsupport frame (28) through said second frame (41) about the end of saidsupport arm member (20) to cause said bed board and said first frame(28) to simultaneously and synchronously rotate; and a pedestal (22) forrotatably supporting said support arm member (20) through a furthershaft (21).
 2. An X-ray photographing apparatus according to claim 1wherein said at least two shafts are fixedly coupled to said bed board.